southwold-scene.com – Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, is often relegated to the background of American history. His presidency, which lasted from 1877 to 1881, came at a time of great turmoil and change in the United States, yet it is frequently overshadowed by the more dramatic presidencies that came before and after his time in office. Hayes’ leadership was marked by a series of quiet but significant reforms that laid the groundwork for many of the political and social changes that would come later in the century. However, the relative lack of dramatic events during his administration has contributed to his status as a “forgotten” president.
Despite the lack of sweeping political upheavals or major wars during his presidency, Rutherford B. Hayes made lasting contributions to American politics and governance, particularly in areas such as civil service reform, the reconciliation of the North and South after the Civil War, and the protection of civil rights. These quiet achievements, though often overlooked, had profound effects on the trajectory of the nation and set the stage for key developments in the years to come.
This article seeks to shed light on the forgotten presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes and explore the unseen impact of his time in office. By examining his leadership, policies, and legacy, we can better appreciate how Hayes helped shape the future of the United States during a critical moment in its history.
The Post-Civil War Landscape: A Nation in Transition
Reconstruction’s Aftermath
When Rutherford B. Hayes took office in 1877, the United States was still struggling to recover from the trauma of the Civil War. The South had been devastated by the conflict, and the federal government had spent the previous decade trying to rebuild the Southern states through Reconstruction. During this time, the U.S. government worked to enforce the rights of newly freed African Americans, pass legislation that abolished slavery, and attempt to integrate the South back into the Union.
However, by the time Hayes became president, Reconstruction was all but over. The political will in the North to continue enforcing federal policies in the South was waning, and the Southern states had largely regained control of their governments. The political, social, and economic divisions between the North and South were still very much alive, and the rights of African Americans remained precarious in many parts of the South.
One of the primary challenges Hayes faced when he assumed the presidency was the reconciliation of a divided nation. The wounds of the Civil War had not yet healed, and the social and political questions left unresolved by Reconstruction continued to loom large.
The Election of 1876: The Road to the White House
Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency itself was born out of a contested and highly disputed election. The 1876 election pitted Hayes, a Republican governor of Ohio, against Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic governor of New York. The election was marred by allegations of voter fraud and electoral manipulation in several Southern states, and the results were in doubt for several months after Election Day.
Ultimately, a compromise known as the Compromise of 1877 resolved the election deadlock, with Hayes winning the presidency in exchange for agreeing to withdraw federal troops from the South. This marked the official end of Reconstruction, a decision that was politically expedient but also controversial, as it left African Americans in the South vulnerable to the resurgence of white supremacist power and Jim Crow laws.
Though his election was controversial, Hayes’ presidency was marked by his desire to move beyond the divisions of the past and heal the wounds of the nation. In his first speech as president, Hayes called for the restoration of civil order, the protection of civil rights, and a return to national unity.
Civil Service Reform: A Quiet Revolution
The Patronage System
One of the most significant, yet often overlooked, aspects of Hayes’ presidency was his commitment to civil service reform. At the time, the federal government was rife with patronage, the practice of appointing government workers based on political loyalty rather than merit. This system, known as the “spoils system,” was deeply entrenched in both major political parties and had led to widespread corruption and inefficiency in government.
Patronage allowed politicians to reward their supporters with government jobs, regardless of their qualifications or ability to perform the tasks required of them. This system not only created inefficiencies but also fostered an environment of corruption, where government contracts were awarded based on political connections rather than the public good.
Hayes was one of the first presidents to actively challenge the patronage system. He recognized that an efficient and competent government required the appointment of skilled individuals, not political cronies. In his inaugural address, Hayes declared his intent to reform the civil service and move toward a system based on merit rather than political favoritism.
The Pendleton Act: Laying the Foundation for Reform
Hayes’ efforts to reform the civil service were not without resistance. Many members of his own party, including powerful political bosses and party machines, were strongly opposed to his efforts to reduce patronage. Despite this, Hayes persisted in his reform agenda, and in 1878, he signed an executive order that called for the establishment of a merit-based system for hiring federal employees.
Although the reforms Hayes initiated were limited, they set the stage for future advancements. In 1883, after Hayes left office, Congress passed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which formalized the principles of merit-based hiring for federal employees and established the Civil Service Commission to oversee the process. The Pendleton Act is widely regarded as one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history and is considered a direct result of Hayes’ early efforts to clean up the federal government.
While Hayes may not have fully realized his vision of civil service reform during his presidency, his commitment to the cause and his leadership in the fight against patronage had a lasting impact on the development of American government. His efforts paved the way for a more efficient, professional, and less corrupt federal workforce, which would have far-reaching effects on the functioning of the government in the years to come.
Reconciliation with the South: The End of Reconstruction
The Compromise of 1877 and the Withdrawal of Federal Troops
Perhaps the most contentious aspect of Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency was his decision to withdraw federal troops from the South, effectively bringing an end to Reconstruction. This decision was part of the larger political compromise that had secured his presidency, but it also had profound implications for the future of race relations and civil rights in the South.
The withdrawal of federal troops allowed Southern states to regain control over their local governments, which many Southern whites saw as a return to normalcy after the upheaval of the Reconstruction era. Unfortunately, this meant that many of the gains made by African Americans during Reconstruction were reversed. Southern states implemented a series of discriminatory laws, known as Jim Crow laws, that severely restricted the rights of African Americans and legalized racial segregation.
While Hayes believed that the South should be allowed to govern itself and that federal intervention was no longer necessary, his decision to withdraw troops was widely criticized by civil rights advocates and African Americans. The end of Reconstruction left the South largely in the hands of white supremacists, and it would take nearly a century for the full promise of civil rights to be realized.
However, Hayes did not abandon the cause of civil rights altogether. He continued to support the enforcement of civil rights laws and appointed individuals sympathetic to African American rights to key positions in the South. While his ability to enforce these policies was limited, Hayes’ commitment to civil rights, despite the political challenges of his time, demonstrated his dedication to ensuring that African Americans were not entirely forgotten in the post-Reconstruction era.
Promoting National Unity
Despite the challenges he faced in reconciling the North and South, Hayes remained committed to the idea of national unity. He believed that the best way to heal the nation was through reconciliation, economic development, and a commitment to fairness and justice for all citizens. His presidency was marked by efforts to promote economic growth, particularly in the South, through the development of infrastructure, such as the railroad system, and the promotion of industry and trade.
Hayes also worked to improve the relationship between the federal government and the states, seeking to foster cooperation and unity in a time of division. His support for civil service reform and his efforts to protect civil rights, though limited in scope, were important steps toward creating a more unified, just, and efficient government.
The Unseen Impact of Rutherford B. Hayes
While Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency is often overlooked in the annals of American history, his impact on the country was both profound and lasting. His commitment to civil service reform, national reconciliation, and civil rights set important precedents for future administrations and contributed to the modernization of the federal government. Though his presidency was marked by challenges and compromises, Hayes’ quiet but steadfast leadership helped lay the foundation for many of the key developments in American politics during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Hayes’ reforms, particularly in civil service, created a framework for future efforts to reduce corruption and improve government efficiency. His efforts to promote unity in a divided nation, despite the limitations of his time, helped to set the stage for the eventual healing of the wounds of the Civil War. Hayes’ presidency, though often forgotten, had an unseen impact on the development of American government and the progress of civil rights, and his legacy continues to resonate in the nation’s ongoing struggle for justice, equality, and good governance.
Conclusion
Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency may not have been marked by dramatic events or sweeping reforms, but his leadership during a difficult and transitional period in American history had a lasting effect on the trajectory of the nation. From his advocacy for civil service reform to his efforts to reconcile the North and South, Hayes worked quietly yet diligently to create a more just, efficient, and unified government. The unseen impact of his presidency is felt to this day, and though he may be forgotten by many, his contributions to the development of modern American democracy should not be overlooked.